New Delhi: Gopal Singh Chawla, a Pakistan-based Khalistani Sikh and Chairman of the Punjabi Sikh Sangat, has issued an unconditional apology following a viral video in which he publicly humiliated and directed expletives at the police of Pakistan’s Punjab province, including the District Police Officer (DPO) of Nankana Sahib.
The video, which garnered international attention, showed Chawla berating the officers, undermining their authority, and making crude threats. However, in a dramatic turnaround, Chawla later praised the Punjab police for their sacrifices and their role in protecting the Sikh community.
According to intelligence sources closely monitoring such incidents involving Khalistani Sikhs and anti-India elements, Chawla’s abrupt change of tone was not voluntary but a result of the police’s stern response to his actions. The sources revealed that Chawla was detained, reprimanded, and compelled to publicly admit his mistake on camera.
Not only Chawla, but the other members of the Sikh community in Nankana Sahib were made to line up and apologize for Chawla’s behavior, further emphasizing the pressure exerted by the authorities.
In a video shared by the Pakistan Punjab police on social media, Chawla’s body language and demeanor clearly indicated the duress under which he was speaking. His apology, though delivered in a composed manner, appeared to be coerced rather than genuine. Alongside Chawla, Dilawar Singh and several other Sikhs from Nankana Sahib were also seen offering apologies, with Singh standing while Chawla sat in a chair.
The incident reportedly began when Chawla, accompanied by a prominent female guest, was stopped at the entrance of Gurdwara Nankana Sahib for security reasons. The delay, which lasted over an hour, allegedly provoked Chawla, leading him to verbally abuse the police and the DPO. During his outburst, he boasted about his guest’s influence and referenced a “Brigadier Sahib,” further escalating the situation. The video of his misconduct quickly went viral, prompting the authorities to take swift action against him and others involved.